Car-step.



H. B. STHATION.

CAR STEP. APPLlvcATloN FILED MAY 24, 1918.

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Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

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HENRY B. STRATTON, 0F WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI.

CAR-STEP.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application led May 24, 1918. Serial No. 236,304.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. STRATTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Warrensburg, in the county of Johnson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in car steps, andthe primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedtype of car step especially adapted for use on vestibule passenger cars,-which is 'Provided with an extension step which is adapted to be foldedso as to close the step to prevent passengers from having access theretowhen the lcar is in motion, and which, likewise, forms a cover so as toprevent cold air entering the vestibule.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for carsteps of the vestibule type, which includes an extension step pivotallymounted beneath the lowermost step, and adapted to be swung outwardly soas to form an extension step, and to be folded up over the Vstep to forma cover or closure for the same for preventing access thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive tomanufacture, and one which will be very eficient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view my invention consists ofthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partswhich will be herein referred to and more particularly `pointed out inthe specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation from the opposite side from that which isillustrated in Fig. l,

and

Fig. 4L is a fragmentary detail in'perspective of a portion of the stepand the operating means therefor.

In describing my invention I shall refer to the drawings in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The numeral 1 designates car steps of the conventional type that areordinarily employed for use on passenger cars of the vestibule type, andthe steps 1 are also provided with side portions 2, with laterallyprojecting spaced flanges 3 adjacent their upper ends.

Pivotally mounted beneath the next to the lowermost of the steps l, is asubstantially rectangular-shaped frame t, which has its upper edgepivotally mounted through the side portions 2 of the steps and one endthereof projects from the adjacent side portion, and has a laterallyextending arm 5 connected therewith. The frame 4 is of a correspondingsizeV approximately to the front portion of the lower step, and it is somounted that it is adapted to have its lower edge swing outwardly andrearwardly, the lower edge of said frame, which is designated by thenumeral 6, being provided with projecting ends that extend through theside portions, being slidable in notches 7 therein, as clearly shown inFig. l of the drawings. When in normal position the projecting portionsof the lower edge 6 of the frame are mounted in the notches 7, and theframe is positioned substantially vertically. Connected with the`projecting ends of the lower edge 6 of the frame, are the side portions8 of an extension step 9, which side portions being connected with theprojecting ends at their upper rear ends and being so mounted on theprojecting portions that they are adapted to swing.

Slidably mounted through the projecting flanges 3 of the steps 1, at oneside of said steps, is an operating bar 10 provided with an enlargedlower end 1l that has therein a transverse slot 12 for a purpose to behereinafter more fully described. This bar 10 that is slidableJ throughthe flanges 3, has one edge notched as shown at 13, and a handle 14: ispositioned on the upper end of said bar that extends above the uppermostof the flanges 3. Secured to the under side of the upper flange 3, is aspring pressed bolt 15, that is adapted to bear against one side of thebar 10, to force the same outwardly so that when the bar is in oneposition, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the notchportion thereof will be positioned beneath the fla-nge 3, and the springpressed bolt will move the same to coperative engagement therewith toprevent movement of the bar unless it is moved laterally against thebolt. A connecting link 16 has one end pivotally connected with the arm5 of the frame 4, and the opposite end thereof has a projecting lug 17thereon that is mounted through the slot 12 in the lower end of the bar10. This construction forms the operating means for moving theextensionstep 9 to operative position, in a manner to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

A substantially U-shaped frame 18 has its base portion pivotally mountedthrough the side portions 2 of the steps, beneath the next to thelowermost step, and in parallel relation with the upper edge of theframe 4. This frame 18 has its arms disposed parallel with the sideportions of the steps, and said arms, which are designated by thenumeral 19, are connected with the side portions 8 of the extension step9 by connecting links 20. These links extend outwardly and are connectedwith the forward portions of the sides Of the extension step, as isclearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. One of the arms 19 has arearwardly extending` extension 21 thereon that is positioned on theopposite side of the steps from which the bar 10 is positioned, saidextension being clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Slidablymounted through the fianges 3 at this side of the steps is a verticallyadjustable operating bar 22, that is provided with an enlarged lower end23, provided with a transverse slot 24C for a purpose to be hereinaftermore fully described. The extension 21 of the arm 19 that is disposedadjacent thereto is connected with a point adjacent the lower end ofsaid arm by a link 25 and said link is provided with a projecting lug 26thereon that is positioned through the slot 24 in the lower end of saidbar so as to limit the nro-vement between these parts as is obvious. Thebar 22 is notched as shown at 27 on one edge, and is provided on itsupper end that projects above the uppermost flange 3 with a head 28. Theopposite side from which the notches 27 are positioned has bearingagainst the same, and a spring pressed bolt 29 is connected with theunderside of the upper flange 3 so that when the notches 27 are disposedadjacent said upper flange 3 the bolt will move the same for cooperativeengagement therewith for a purpose to be hereinafter more fullydescribed. This construction forms a means for closing the eX- tensionstep 9 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In operation, when the various parts of the device are assembled andpositioned as is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, theextension step 9 will be in open position beneath the lowermost of thesteps 1, so as to permit passengers to have access to said steps. Toopen the extension step 9, move this bar 22 rearwardly against thespring bolt 29 so that the upper notch 27 is disengaged from the upperflange 3 allowing the bar 22 to pass upwardly when the ste-p 9 will dropby gravity to open position. To close the extension step 9, place thefoot upon the head 28 of the bar 22, thus, shovingbar 22 downwardly andbringing step 9 to folded position. When the spring bol-t shoves saidbar 22 forwardly engaging the upper notch 27 with the upper flange 3then it is automatically locked. The bar 10 is used only in shifting thestep 9 back under the steps 1 when approaching a station with a raisedplatform. This is done by moving the bar 22 rearwardly against thespring bolt 29 so that the upper notch 27 is disengaged from the upperflange 3 allowing it to pass upwardly until the lower notch 27 isengaged with the upper flange 3, the step 9 being in half open position.By grasping handle 14 on top of the bar l0 and moving it rearwardlyagainst the spring bolt 15 until notch 13 is disengaged from the flangeand said rod is lifted until the lower notch 13 is engaged on top of theflange when the extension step 9 will be shifted backward underneath thesteps 1, thus, avoiding the obstruction of a raised platform. y

lVhen the bar 22 is released the step will drop by gravity to operativeposition and then by forcing bar 22 down the step is returned to foldedposition. The bar 10 is used to shift the step backward underneath whenapproaching a station which has a raised platform. This is done bydropping the step to half open position which is done by the bar 22.Then by lifting the bar 10 the step is shifted backward so as to avoidthe obstruction of the raised platform.

This type of folding extension step will be found very efficient inoperation, and it is especially adapted to be applied to passenger carsof the vestibule type as the extension step when folded over the frontof the steps 1 acts as a cover to prevent cold air from entering thevestibule. The device is very easily operated by movement of the bars1() and 22 it only being necessary to lift the bar 110 to move theextension step to operative position, and to force the bar 22 downwardlyto return the step to folded position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it is thought that a `clear and comprehensive understanding ofthe construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had,and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specific,structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be madein said structureas do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

Having fully described my invention, wha-t I claim is new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with car steps, a pivoted frame beneath the neXt tothe lowermost step, an extension step having the inner end of its sideportions connected with said frame, and means for swinging the framerearwardly whereby the extension step is drawn rearwardly and downwardlyto allow the same to drop by gravity to operative position.

2. The combination with ear steps, a pivoted frame beneath the neXt tothe lowermost step, an extension step having the upper inner end of itsside portions pivotally connected with said frame, means for swing ingthe frame rearwardly whereby the extension step is drawn rearwardly anddown wardly to allow the same to drop by gravity to operative position,and means connected with said extension step for returning the same tofolded position.

3. The combination with ear steps, a pivoted frame vertically disposedbeneath the next to the lowermost step, an extension step having itsupper inner end of its side portions pivotally connected with saidframe, an arm on said Jframe, a vertically adjustable operating bar, anda link having a limited movement connecting said bar and arm forswinging the frame upon movement of the bar to move the extension stepto operative position.

4. rllhe combination with oar steps, an eX- tension step pivotallyconnected with the oar steps, means for shifting the extension step intoposition in front of the car steps, a substantially U-shaped framehaving its base portion pivotally mounted through the sides of saidstep, links connecting the Jforward portions of the sides of theextension stepl with the arms of said frame, and a vertically adjustableoperating bar connected with said frame for swinging the extension stepto folded position.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature hereto.

HENRY B. STRAT'ION- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve centseach, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents., Washington, D. CE2.

